Tag: John Gallagher
Frequent flyer: VGM’s Gallagher talks life on the road
November 1, 2022Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
In his role as vice president of government relations for VGM, John Gallagher has learned a thing or two about travel.
“Don’t travel on a Friday and don’t travel through Chicago,” says Gallagher, who also recommends planning for when – not if – your flight gets cancelled.
During some recent downtime at home in Iowa, Gallagher was a guest on HME News in 10, where he shared his experiences as a frequent flyer.
Team wins – across...
Stakeholders prepare for bid-relief bill to drop
October 13, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Industry stakeholders have begun the task of shoring up support in anticipation of a bill that would provide some relief from the competitive bid program.Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., has released draft language of the legislation, which would extend a retroactive delay of a second round of reimbursement cuts in non-bid areas from Jan. 1, 2017, to Jan. 1, 2019. Per the legislation, reimbursement for that period would be based on reimbursement on Jan. 1, 2016.“McMorris Rodgers...
Stakeholders grease wheels for possible action in September
July 28, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Industry stakeholders have legislative language being vetted that would freeze payment rates at the Jan. 1, 2016, amounts, and fix the so-called “double-dip” for oxygen payments.The news comes on the eve of the August recess, a time when HME providers need to turn up the heat on lawmakers while they're back in their home districts.“Then we can say, 'Here's your August meeting agenda,'” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO of AAHomecare. “Get them to understand...
Legislative update: One letter down, one more to go
June 16, 2017Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WATERLOO, Iowa - Fresh on the heels of a successful letter in the House of Representatives seeking competitive bidding relief, industry stakeholders say they now have their sights on a Senate version.
“We hope to have Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D, come up with a letter in the next couple of weeks,” John Gallagher, vice president of government relations for The VGM Group, told attendees at the Heartland Conference last week. “(These letters) give HHS...
Draining the swamp at CMS won't happen overnight
May 25, 2017HME News Staff
What are the most important things needed to break a nut loose from a rusty bolt? Some WD-40, a few good tools, and an abundance of elbow grease. Much like that rusty bolt, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price is working to break the bureaucratic rust loose within the agencies he oversees.
There are plenty of concerned providers who are worried that Secretary Price, a strong advocate for the HME industry during his time in Congress, has forgotten about problems that must be solved. While...
Trump, man of mystery
November 11, 2016Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - Industry stakeholders are looking ahead at what a Trump presidency could mean for HME.
“If it was anyone other than Donald Trump, I would be able to tell you a lot more,” said Cara Bachenheimer, senior vice president of government relations for Invacare. “He's not a traditional Republican. It's unclear what his congressional agenda is and what his proposals really mean.”
What is clear is that Trump, a businessman with no political experience, struck...
John Gallagher makes Hall of Fame
October 6, 2016HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - The VGM Group's John Gallagher has been inducted into the University of Northern Iowa's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Hall of Fame. The first ROTC cadet at UNI back in 1980, Gallagher was also the first UNI ROTC alum inducted into the U.S. Army Cadet Command ROTC Hall of Fame. Gallagher, vice president of government relations for VGM, received a standing ovation at UNI's Homecoming football game on Sept. 25, which was attended by more than 200 VGM associates and their families.
Bid delay efforts run out of gas
June 24, 2016Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - With efforts to delay a second round of Medicare cuts stalled, the HME industry finds itself between a rock and a hard place, stakeholders say.“We're regrouping and figuring out with our champions where we go from here,” said John Gallagher, vice president of government relations for The VGM Group, of the cuts set for July 1 in non-bid areas.A modified version of H.R. 5210 was scheduled to go to vote last week, but an unexpected sit-in by House Democrats over gun control...
Stakeholders challenge OIG
January 16, 2015Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - The Office of Inspector General (OIG) says it will use Medicare claims data to review the impact of competitive bidding on beneficiary access to DME, but industry stakeholders don't want the agency to stop there.
“If our industry is allowed to provide the information that we have been collecting for fair judgment, we are hopeful that the OIG would come to the same conclusion that the bid program has negative impacts on beneficiaries,” said Kelly Turner, director of...
CMS finalizes rule on bidding, bundling
November 7, 2014Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON - CMS plans to move forward with its plans to implement competitive bid pricing nationwide, despite widespread opposition from the HME industry.
“This is a big deal,” said Kim Brummett, senior director of regulatory affairs for AAHomecare.
The agency issued its final rule Oct. 31. The proposed rule was published in July.
The biggest concern: the application of bid rates in non-competitive bidding areas (CBAs), beginning Jan. 1, 2016 and phased-in over a six-month time...